Turning suddenly, her quick eye just caught sight of a figure disappearing behind the slope of the falling ground to the left.

He was a lame man, and he was running.

In a moment she saw that he was making a short cut, with the intention of waylaying them at the gate.

He would get there long before they would; and even then Balaam was beginning the ascent, which really was an ascent this time, at his slowest walk.
Molly's teeth were chattering in her little head.
"Now, Molly," said Ruth, sharply, "listen to me, and don't be a baby.
He'll wait for us at the gate, so he can't see us here.

Get out this moment, and we will both run up the hill to the keeper's cottage at the top of the bank.